“Aikido is false practice because if we’d train to win a cage combat, none of the techniques would work!” As though cage fighting or any other rule-based sport is realistic! The important elements of...
Archive - November 2012
Josh Gold“In Fairness, an aiki perspective,” by Francis Takahashi
In fairness to the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, I issue this disclaimer, that whatever opinion or perspective I present, does not presume or assume any direct claim to the Founder, or of any special knowledge or...
“Is Aikido efficient? What for?” by Pasquale Robustini
“The hero of American western movies, so popular in the same period, was the fastest gunslinger, the one who killed them all, the avenger…” We live times of great uncertainty, tension, worry. Fear of...
Abuse Survivors in Aikido Class by Paul Linden
Introduction Many people who were physically and sexually abused as children come to study aikido as adults in order to gain a sense of safety and a feeling that they are in control of what happens to their bodies and...
“Connection, an Aiki perspective,” by Francis Takahashi
“If we truly wanted the most reliable directions to any destination, wouldn’t we first attempt to find the person who actually made the trek?” If we truly wanted the most reliable directions to any...
Yoshimitsu Yamada: An insider’s look at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in the late 1950s
The text below is excerpted from the “Biography of Yoshimitsu Yamada” appearing on the Aikido Sansuikai website, Sensei Yamada’s Official Website for Europe. The Aikikai Hombu Dojo was at that time a...
Koichi Tohei’s Letter of Resignation from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo dated May 15, 1974
“I have tried with all my heart to repay the kindness of Master Morihei Ueshiba who founded and taught me Aikido.” In May, 1974, an event occurred that shook the roots of the aikido world to its very...
A Grand Assault on Port Arthur’s Forts by Richard Barry, Special Correspondent with the Japanese Third Army
“Description of the Desperate Attack of October 29, by which the Japanese had hoped to caputre the Fortress” On a recent trip to Japan, I had an opportunity to visit with Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei of Daito-ryu...
“Fear, the ultimate component,” by Francis Takahashi
In May, 2010, I wrote a brief article entitled “Fear as an opponent.” Carina Reinhard responded with a brilliant illustration of what fear can cause in a man’s behavior. You may find both in the Forum section of my...
“Remembering Morihiro Saito Sensei (1),” by Stanley Pranin
“The grainy image of Sensei caught on the film was that of a huge block of a man moving haphazardly around the stage while left and right demolishing attackers who appeared to be mere playthings!” Saito...